Answer :
Final answer:
The vadose zone is unsaturated with air-filled pores, while the groundwater zone below the water table is saturated with water-filled pores.
Explanation:
The vadose zone differs from the groundwater zone in the way that the vadose zone is unsaturated, while the groundwater zone is saturated. Hence, option b is correct. The vadose zone, also known as the unsaturated zone or aerated zone, is the part of the subsurface where the pore spaces are primarily filled with air, and only sometimes with water, such as shortly after a heavy rain when the water is percolating downward. In contrast, the phreatic zone, or groundwater zone, is continuously saturated with water, as all the pores are filled. This zone starts below the water table, which is the boundary that separates the unsaturated and saturated zones.
